Varicose veins during pregnancy are a frequent complication of pregnancy. In women, most often for the first time during pregnancy, varicose veins of the lower extremities appear.
Causes of development of varicose during pregnancy
In pregnancy, varicose veins usually occur in the second trimester, which is due to increased load on the lower limbs. As the pregnancy progresses, the uterus grows, the fetus increases, the amount of amniotic fluid increases, which breaks the blood flow in the inferior vena cava and leads to a disruption in the circulation in the lower extremities.
Endocrine changes that occur during pregnancy affect the venous system. Progesterone , produced in the yellow body and in the placenta, promotes relaxation of the venous wall. Reducing the production of vasopressin during pregnancy, reduces the tone of the venous wall. Therefore, the veins become longer and wider during pregnancy, their walls thicken and change shape.
The genetic predisposition to varicose veins increases the possibility of varicose veins during pregnancy on the legs. In most cases, the veins will come out during pregnancy if the symptoms of varicose veins appear before pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the body of a woman must provide blood not only to herself, but also to the fetus. An increase in the volume of circulating blood in the body of a woman leads to an expansion of veins on the legs during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the rheological properties of the blood change, it becomes more viscous. In addition, the velocity of blood flow in the veins decreases, which contributes to venous congestion and the formation of varicose veins.
Manifestations of varicose veins
Varicose veins on the legs are most often manifested:
- the expansion of the subcutaneous veins, the appearance of asterisks;
- weight in the legs;
- edema;
- convulsions;
- pain;
- skin itching;
- brown pigmentation of the dilated veins.
At the initial stages of the disease, women are more concerned about the cosmetic defect. In later stages, frequent manifestations of the disease are pain and convulsions. If a woman complains that the veins are hurting during pregnancy, you need to seek advice from a phlebologist.
Varicose veins during pregnancy can be false or functional. After the termination of pregnancy and sorts or labors, expansion of veins and accompanying signs can decrease and at all disappear. Varicose veins after pregnancy can stay and continue to progress, if before pregnancy the woman had signs of the disease. In this case, the hereditary predisposition, the degree of decompensation of the blood circulation, is affected.
What is the risk of varicose veins during pregnancy?
With varicose veins, there is a risk of developing:
- thromboembolic complications;
- bleeding from a varicose dilated node;
- anemia;
- hypotension;
- premature discharge of amniotic fluid;
- weakness of ancestral forces;
- premature placental abruption ;
- thrombophlebitis after childbirth.
During pregnancy it is recommended to wear a compression knitted fabric. The degree of compression should be prescribed by a doctor, usually the first or second one is used. To reduce the severity of symptoms, you can use gels and ointments containing heparin, but many of them are only allowed from the second trimester of pregnancy. Useful for veins during pregnancy, exercise therapy and contrast shower for the legs.
Sclerotherapy and surgical methods of treatment are used only after pregnancy and childbirth.